Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Real travelers love South America. Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and vertiginous nightlife: the wonders of South America set the stage for incredible adventures. It is as though the continent was built for travel; a place that excites, thrills, challenges & infuriates.

Landscapes rivalled by few….Beautiful, defiant & intense. It is apparent why Argentina has long held travelers in awe with its streetside tango, wafting grills, fútbol (soccer), gaucho culture & the mighty Andes, Patagonia. It is one formidable cocktail of wanderlust.

 And, Buenos Aires combines faded colonial architecture with Latin passion. Sexy & alive, this beautiful city gets under your skin.

Arrive in Buenos Aires which combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Sexy, alive & supremely confident, this beautiful city gets under your skin. Like Europe with a melancholic twist, Buenos Aires is unforgettable.

Steak, Wine & Ice Cream| Art & Architecture| Nightlife |Tango

Arriving in Buenos Aires is like jumping aboard a moving train. The modern metropolis whizzes by, alive with street life from busy sidewalk cafes, to hush parks carpeted in purple jacaranda blooms in springtime. There are heaps of bookstores, creative boutiques & gourmet eats.

BA is an amazing city, an astonishing metropolis that looks a bit like Europe, but with an edgy Latin American twist. Stylish Portenos (as BA residents are called) savor public life – whether it is sharing mate (a tea-like beverage) on Sunday in the park or gelato under handsome early 20^th century stone facades. Portenos are passionate, opinionated & - once you get past their hard-city facade - very friendly. Walk among them along the busy avenues, taking in the street life & often the craziness that goes along with it. This is a very special place, beautiful in its own unique way, resilient & creative. It is the kind of city travelers fall in love with, dream about & then move to!

Look closely: this city is beautiful. Sure, it might look like a concrete jungle from certain angles, but stroll through the streets, paying attention to the magnificent architecture around you, and you will soon be won over. Grand French & Italian-style palaces grab the limelight, but you will see interesting architectural details in the buildings of even low-key, local barrios. These days the beauty of these traditional neighborhoods is further enhanced by colorful murals painted by artists involved in the city's vibrant street-art scene. For these talented individuals, the city is their canvas.

BA's famous dance is possibly the city's greatest contribution to the outside world. Folklore says it began in the bordellos of long-ago Buenos Aires, when men waiting for their 'ladies' passed time by dancing amongst themselves. Today, glamorized tango shows are supremely entertaining with their grand feats of athleticism. You will also find endless venues for perfecting your moves, from salons to milongas (dance events) to cafes. Just realize that some people become addicted - & can spend a lifetime perfecting this sensual dance.

Cultural activities abound here. Tango is possibly Argentina’s greatest contribution to the outside world. The steamy dance has been described as ‘making love in the vertical position.’ And what about futbol (soccer)? Argentines are passionately devoted to this sport & if you are a fan, chanting & stomping alongside other stadium fanatics should definitely be in your plans. Add a distinctive Argentine take on literature, cinema, music & arts, and you have a rich, edgy culture – part Latin American & part European – that you can’t help but fall in love with.

Fancy some Indian, French, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Thai, Scandinavian, Mexican, Brazilian, Peruvian, Armenian or American food during your stay in BA? No problem. But for many travelers, it is the city's carnivorous pleasures that shine. Satisfying that craving for juicy steaks isn't hard to do in the land that has perfected grilling those wonderfully flavorful sides of beef. Parrillas (steakhouses) sit on practically every corner & will offer up myriad cuts, from bife de chorizo (sirloin) to vacio (flank steak) to ojo de bife (rib eye). But leave room for ice cream, if you can – a late-night cone of dulce de leche (caramel) helado can't be topped. Vegetarians, you have been warned!

It is no joke: Buenos Aires is a shopper's paradise. The city is laced with shopping streets lined with heaps of clothing & shoe stores, leather shops & nearly everything else you can think of. Large shopping malls are modern & family-friendly, offering designer goods, food courts & even children's play areas. But perhaps the city's best shopping is in Palermo Viejo, where countless upscale boutiques live; these offer avant-garde clothing, unique housewares & fun souvenirs. And let us not forget San Telmo, where antiques aficionados flock; the Sunday fair here is famous & entertaining, and will easily fill up a long afternoon.

Take a cat nap, down your coffee & be prepared to stay up all night - this is a city that never sleeps! Restaurants open at 9.00 pm, bars at midnight & clubs at 2.00 am - at the very earliest. If you are cool, of course, you will show up after 4.00 am & dance till dawn. International DJs are the rage, spinning electronica & house to legions of hip, trendy & well-dressed crowds. But you can also enjoy live music such as rock, blues, jazz & even folk - just remember that you will be doing it all very late!

Overnight.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09:00 am & proceed for a 3 hour sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city that shows the influence of the numerous waves of immigrants that formed it.

Start at the historic Plaza de Mayo Square, the oldest public Square in BA that has been the scene of many of the most important events in the city's history, from the second founding of the city in 1580, through the revolution of independence, to more recent political demonstrations. Plaza de Mayo is the place where Argentines gather in vehement protest or jubilant celebration.

Its current name commemorates the May Revolution of 1810 that began in what was then called the Plaza de la Victoria. Six years later Argentina won independence from Spain & the Square was given its current name, May Square. At the center is the Piramide de Mayo, a white obelisk built to mark the first anniversary of independence from Spain.

Among the 3 important historic buildings surrounding the Plaza are the pink coloured Casa Rosada (or Casa de Gobierno) - the executive mansion & office of the President of Argentina & considered one of the most emblematic buildings in Buenos Aires which also houses a Museum, which contains objects relating to former presidents of Argentina.

The Town Hall Cabildo, dating back to 1580 which was the site of Spain's colonial administration in the city. Originally constructed from adobe & thatch, the current building was constructed over the second half of the 18th century, witnessed the Argentine Revolution in 1810 & served as an important administrative building during the first century of Argentine independence.

The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral - the the main Catholic church in Buenos Aires where Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio used to perform mass before assuming office in the Vatican in 2013 as Pope Francis. In Bergoglio's honour, the Cathedral now houses the Pope Francis Museum, which exhibits some of his personal & liturgical objects.

Every major city in the world has a famous main avenue, for example, New York has 5^th Avenue & Paris has the Champs Elysees. Buenos Aires is no exception & like its steak sizes, the Portenos were generous when constructing the 3km main avenue, Avenida 9 de Julio, a major thoroughfare in the city centre with its 8 lanes divided by small green squares with old leafy trees, enriched by sculptures & fountains. Named after the day of Argentina’s Independence on 9^th July 1816, construction of the imposing Avenue began in the 1930s & was finally completed in 1980, gaining the title of the widest street in the world!

As the traffic lights turn red, jugglers, fire eaters & other street performers begin their short shows in order to make a few pesos. However, within all this noise & energy, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the small tree-lined plazas & gardens which run the length of the avenue.

Find a bench and pass some time soaking up the liveliness of Buenos Aires by watching the street performers, the frenzied traffic, or taking the opportunity to try & fit the whole of the Avenue into one incredible panoramic photograph capturing all aspects of Buenos Aires life.

At the very center of the avenue where it crosses with Avenida de Mayo, is one of Buenos Aires’ most famous & recognized landmarks. The Obelisk, or Obelisco, is a 70m high, white, needle-like structure that was constructed to commemorate Buenos Aires’ 400^th Anniversary. Today it is the focal point for many Porteno celebrations & the starting point of many of the political demonstrations. There are plenty of other wide avenues with some green patches which attempt to slow down the rhythm of this vertiginous city.

Continue walking south to the picturesque & colorful port neighborhood of La Boca where you will find the famous Caminito street (little path, in Spanish) - a street museum of colourful painted houses typical of the immigrant dwellings that reflects through its architecture & customs, the influence of the European citizens who arrived on these shores in the late 19^th century, especially Genoese sailors.

The place acquired cultural significance because it inspired the music for the famous tango "Caminito", composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto. Today, there are several works by Argentine artists incorporated as part of the street museum & the Caminito has become a favourite with visitors to the city. Several restaurants offer tango & folk dance shows and street fills with artists offering original crafts & paintings.

Continue on towards San Telmo, indoor market (Mercado de San Telmo) built in 1897 in one of Buenos Aires oldest neighborhoods surrounded by colonial houses & cobbled streets in the eponymous neighborhood.

Explore the covered market, which is largely a foodie affair, but has booths of collectables such as antique dolls, second-hand records, vintage jewellery & clothing.

Every Sunday, the area around the market hosts the city’s most famous street fair, the Feria de San Telmo, when hundreds of vendors line the streets surrounding Plaza Dorrego, most of them dealing in one-of-a-kind antiques. What started as a small gathering of about 30 antiques vendors in 1970, when the fair was inaugurated, has expanded to a crowd of nearly 300.

During the rest of the week, locals buy fresh produce & meat at the indoor market, which is said to have some of the best coffee in town.

There is stall upon stall laden with the bright & shiny: used copper kitchenware, vintage buttons, military regalia, toys, magazines, books, posters, records, ancient telephones, lamps, pieces of lace, exquisite art, tortoiseshell spectacle frames, fans, beaded bags, fragile antique clothing, memorabilia from the Peron era & all manner of ornaments that show the South American, Spanish & Italian influences of modern Buenos Aires.

Tango dancers, buskers & other entertainers vie for the attention of the thousands of shoppers who flood the San Telmo neighborhood on Sundays. San Telmo being the oldest neighborhood in BA is one of the best places in the city to experience the passion of the Argentine tango. Visitors are likely to see an impromptu tango performance right out on the street during the weekly Feria de San Telmo.

Then walk towards the modern & well-off district of Puerto Madero; Palermo neighbourhood, with its elegant residences framed by wide green areas; and finally see the tony district of Recoleta, the most sophisticated area where the rich live.

The sightseeing ends & you are transferred back to the hotel (or continue exploring & go back to the hotel on your own).

Balance of day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B 

Full day at leisure for independent explorations or perhaps enjoy one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements. We particularly recommend an excursion to Tigre and / or Gaucho’s Festival which will surely be an unforgettable experience).

Overnight.   B 

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to Buenos Aires. But, we sure hope that after this glimpse, you may want to discover a little bit more of the Argentine Culture, practice your Tango & discover Argentina’s vast natural wonderland on your next visit.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

“Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & obtain your feedback about the arrangements for the tour. 

The iconic Journey comes to an end and it is time to go home. You will be transferred to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport for your onward journey.   B

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